If you work in a technical field, or manage projects this resource is FANTASTIC, and it's free (courtesy of a DARPA research grant). Earlier today while participating in the project / chartering definition phase of a project at work, I watched a colleague use a neat tool for visually defining and linking the parts of a project. Not only did the software seem easy to use, but the visualization really encouraged all the team members to participate.

After the meeting, I linked to the software site (IHMC Cmap), downloaded the software, did an install … and in almost no time at all found I could use the mind mapping / process mapping software. The user interface was very intuitive.

I've linked two items below … one is a Powerpoint file which gives annotated screenshots of the IHMC CMap user interface. The other link is to my example (i.e. a completed process map):

• Northstar Nerd Mind Map Tutorial
  
• Process Map Example

Here is one screenshot of the user interface (click to expand):
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This almost sounds like "Tales from the Crypt". However, in this instance … Ubuntu does not represent the dead. Instead it was my four year old Dell desktop Dimension 8110. This system was never speedy to begin with. Here are its specs:

• System Type: Dimension 1100/B110
• Processor, 80546, Celeron Prescott Desktop Socket N,325 E0
• Dimm, 512, 400M, 64X64, 8K,184

This system was almost dead in the water under Windows XP and four year's of Hoeg Household software bloat. I was wondering if I should purchase a Netbook to provide another computer that would be around our house and available for basic computing and web browsing. However, before making that purchase I decided:

1. Let's try a virgin installation of XP (that was painful and slow … gave up after many issues and realizing I would need to download a phenomenal number of updates.
2. Decided to try Ubuntu … downloaded an install file … burned it to a CD
3. Booted from the CD … formated the hard drive … answered two questions
4. Voila … in less than fifteen mintues the system was up on my home network

My initial thoughts include:

• Boy was this easy
• Installed Wine for Ubuntu (gives me a windows emulator)
• Firefox runs quickly
• Performance is better than my old Dell had experienced in years.

My only bummer … can't get TIVO desktop to run (open source options don't synch the sound and video properly) and the Wine emulator doesn't work in this instance (can view Powerpoint presentations, however)

These are just some quick notes. Here are some screenshots I took with Ubuntu's screenshot tool. The nice think about this LINUX based installation … did not cost me a cent. Click to maxminze any image.

I like to keep my blog private from my professional life, but sometimes you just have to brag! My employer, Honeywell, manufacturers APU's (auxiliary power units) for commercial jet aircraft. In the case of the dramatic controlled landing by US Airways Flight 529 on the Hudson River, this is what the Wall Street Journal had to say …
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Backup System Helped Pilot Control Jet

"The generators that routinely provide electricity weren't available
because they are driven by the aircraft's engines — which weren't
putting out sufficient power after apparently having ingested several
geese. But the plane's auxiliary power unit — made by Honeywell International nc. — was operating during the descent and gave the pilot full use of
the jet's flight-control system, according to a spokesman for the
National Transportation Safety Board and other people familiar with the
details.

Crash investigations determined that a so-called ram air turbine —
which can be used to regain hydraulic pressure when both engines stop
working — also was deployed before the touchdown, board spokesman
Peter Knudson said Monday. It isn't clear whether the crew deployed the
turbine, or whether it deployed automatically because of the emergency.
The device consists of a small propeller that drops out of the bottom
of the craft, and then drives a hydraulic pump and also supplies backup
electricity at certain speeds to help operate the plane's flight
controls."

Now back to my comments … if the pilot had not been able to control the A320 jet (i.e. the flight controls), it would have been impossible to fly the aircraft.

I wanted to go cross-country skiing tonight (park with 7.5k of lit trails near by), but I'm getting soft. The temperature is already down to -12F (-24C) and although I've skied when it's colder … I just could not get psyched up. (update: -20F at 5 am the next morning)

Ever wonder what it looks like up here in the Northland when it gets real cold? (actually colder than -12F). I invite you to enjoy a visit to a blog I discovered from the "other side" of Lake Superior near WaWa, Ontario: Mortimer on Lake Superior at Michipicoten. Some of you may remember that the Northstar Nerd's home town is Duluth, which is on the western end of Lake Superior … and the location of my new building lot. Anyhow … link to Mortimer's blog and enjoy:

• Waves crashing ashore on Lake Superior (blog post with video)
• Redneck Tobagganing (blog post with video)
  (and)
• Beautiful Photos on Cold Winter Mornings: December | January

Here is a map and one sample photograph (click to view full sized).
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Design News has a new free webinar available, A Mechatronic Marvel … The Digital Camera. Even if you don't care about digital photography, this excellent short seminar taught by two professors from Marquette University does a good job of explaining Mechatronics (Drs. Kevin Craig and Mark Nagurka). Although the seminar first requires one to register … feel free to input dummy data. eMail verification is not required. I have added this seminar to the Engineering Learning Wiki and its specialized Google Custom Search Engine (Mechanical Engineering Section | Search Seminars). I've provided two screen shots from the seminar … one shows the user interface. Click to view full sized.
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